TekScan vs Gait rite

[Guest guest]

Our hospital is in the process of deciding which gait analysis system to

purchase. I would love to learn what others in the rehab field feel about both

the TekScan and Gait rite systems.

Thank you in advance.

Shumway, LVT, CCRP, CCRA (pending)

[Guest guest]

Please share your responses, I am interested as well.Blair hollowell Dvm, ccrtSent from my iPhone

Our hospital is in the process of deciding which gait analysis system to purchase. I would love to learn what others in the rehab field feel about both the TekScan and Gait rite systems.

Thank you in advance.

Shumway, LVT, CCRP, CCRA (pending)

[Guest guest]

,

We critically evaluated the Tekscan, GaitRite and force plate. Hands down, the

gait rite was superior (stride length and step length, max pressure, stance

time, etc). User friendly software, a platform sensitive enough for cats to

giant breeds, excellent client service. The system is validated to force plate

on the human side. Budsberg and Conzemius gave the system their blessings.

Jimi and Liska are also looking at this system. Would be great if we all had

the same system for multicenter studies. We will be demonstrating these systems

at the International Rehab Symposium in Auburn this summer during the gait

analysis wet lab as well as the AVMA conference orthopedic wet lab.

Alternatively, the companies will fly to you to perform demonstrations. Please

also feel free to visit VOSM for a demonstration if you are in our region.

The GAITRite system (www.gaitrite.com) includes 14' portable carpet with 16,128

sensors (now even a 26 foot mat that we have been using at VOSM for over a

year), and captures electronic footprints instantly. It measures cadence, step

length, velocity and other gait parameters. All parameters can be tracked,

reported, and graphed within minutes. It also allows you to assess step-by-step

variability to determine dynamic balance. According to GAITRite this system is

used extensively around the world in human sports medicine centers, however has

only recently made it into the veterinary market. Veterinary users include Jan

Steiss, DVM, PhD, PT at Auburn and Gaynor DVM, DACVA, CVA at the Colorado

Pain Management Center. Here are links to two research papers on GAITFour...

www.gaitrite.com/dog/Validation_GAITRite_VOS.pdf

www.gaitrite.com/dog/Temporospatial_GAITRite_VOS.pdf

Here are the tutorials they offer... www.gaitrite.com/GAITFour/GF_CD.exe

The Tekscan system (www.tekscan.com) allows for analysis of dynamic or static

pressure distribution. This system is capable of measuring critical

patient/surface interface pressure with minimal interference. Extremely thin,

flexible sensors accommodate most contours and provide highly accurate local

pressure readings. Vivid graphics, displayed on a PC, make the information easy

to interpret and provide the clinician with excellent documentation. Tekscan

sensors operate best over a pressure range of 15:1. For example, a 750 (Pressure

Range - Psat) Maximum Pressure sensor will operate most accurately in a range of

50 to 750 KPa. Pressure resolutions of Maximum Pressure divided by 256 are

possible. The system that looks the best for our purposes is the Walkway™ is a

low profile floor walkway system that captures multiple sequential foot strikes

of humans and animals for analysis of foot function and gait. The system

displays foot function, stride length, velocity, and gait parameters. The

Walkway's modular design allows you to choose the system configuration by

sensing area and sensor resolution. This system allows for you to quantify

continuous gait patterns over many strides; Identify plantar pressure profile

discrepancies between left and right feet; Identify asymmetries during stance

phase; Monitor improvements in balance, sway, strength & weight bearing; and

assess high pressures and deviated Center of Force trajectories due to

pronation, supination, or other foot and/or gait related disorders.

As for standard force plate analysis (strain gage-based) I don't know where to

even begin……there are a ton of systems on the internet, however Bertec

(www.bertec.com) seems to be the most widely used (at least on the human side).

Hope this helps,

Sherman

Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, CCRT

Diplomate ACVS

Veterinary Orthopedic &

Sports Medicine Group

10975 Guilford Road

polis Junction, MD 20701

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.vosm.com

>

> Our hospital is in the process of deciding which gait analysis system to

purchase. I would love to learn what others in the rehab field feel about both

the TekScan and Gait rite systems.

>

> Thank you in advance.

>

> Shumway, LVT, CCRP, CCRA (pending)

>

[Guest guest]

Sherman,

A year ago, the Tekscan people did not have the new software release.

Did you evaluate the Tekscan with their new GUI (Graphic User

Interface) interface software or the old one?

Did you find any significant discrepancies with outcomes between the

Gaitrite vs. the Tekscan?

Can you quickly give a synopsis of the methodology of how you compared

the systems?

ph DeLucia DVM CCRP

[Guest guest]

Joe,

I wish I could say my decision between Tekscan and GaitRite was scientific,

however unlike the faceplate decision it was not. The TekScan company came to

VOSM on three occasions. First, the computer crashed…..they flew home. Second

the mat crashed….they flew home…..third and final time the computer and mat

crashed. Finally, we asked them to just demonstrate the different variables

such as stride and step length calculations and then place them into a graph /

spread that we could use immediately clinically (real clinical scenario)…….they

said they could not. In addition, their client services was horrible. This has

also been the experience that others have had with TekScan based on my

communications. The GaitRite is so user friendly that we can perform the gait

analysis prior to the rehab / ortho consult and have the data sheet (with

graphs, etc) printed out for the owner, RDVM, and record within minutes. In

addition, we are currently using it for numerous clinical trials.

Sherman

Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, CCRT

Diplomate ACVS

Veterinary Orthopedic &

Sports Medicine Group

10975 Guilford Road

polis Junction, MD 20701

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.vosm.com

>

> Sherman,

> A year ago, the Tekscan people did not have the new software release.

> Did you evaluate the Tekscan with their new GUI (Graphic User

> Interface) interface software or the old one?

> Did you find any significant discrepancies with outcomes between the

> Gaitrite vs. the Tekscan?

> Can you quickly give a synopsis of the methodology of how you compared

> the systems?

>

> ph DeLucia DVM CCRP

>

[Guest guest]

ph and Sherman,

I am supposed to receive the new software this week and will try to let you know

what I think. I have had Tekscan for over 5 years but due to the cumbersome

nature of the existing software I was considering a change. I was encouraged

when ph previously informed me of the new software.

Regarding mat length - in order to get what I consider valid information and to

eliminate alterations in PVF due to upper body movement (i.e. turning head to

one direction thereby falsely increasing PVF in a forelimb) we would make 20 to

25 passes over a double cell mat. I would expect that these alterations can

occur with Gaitrite as well but the length of the mat renders more foot falls

however multiple passes would most likely still be needed.

I am envious of Sherman and Gaynor (he also has GaitRite) because of the

apparent user friendly software and rapid production of information, this is not

currently possible with existing TekScan Software.

Rick Wall

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherman,

How much does the GatiRite cost?

thanks,

Mark

Re: TekScan vs Gait rite

> Joe,

>

> I wish I could say my decision between Tekscan and GaitRite was

> scientific, however unlike the faceplate decision it was not. The

> TekScan company came to VOSM on three occasions. First, the

> computer crashed…..they flew home. Second the mat crashed….they

> flew home…..third and final time the computer and mat crashed.

> Finally, we asked them to just demonstrate the different variables

> such as stride and step length calculations and then place them

> into a graph / spread that we could use immediately clinically

> (real clinical scenario)…….they said they could not. In addition,

> their client services was horrible. This has also been the

> experience that others have had with TekScan based on my

> communications. The GaitRite is so user friendly that we can

> perform the gait analysis prior to the rehab / ortho consult and

> have the data sheet (with graphs, etc) printed out for the owner,

> RDVM, and record within minutes. In addition, we are currently

> using it for numerous clinical trials.

>

> Sherman

>

> Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, CCRT

> Diplomate ACVS

>

> Veterinary Orthopedic &

> Sports Medicine Group

>

> 10975 Guilford Road

> polis Junction, MD 20701

> Phone:

> Fax:

>

>

> http://www.vosm.com

>

>

>

> >

> > Sherman,

> > A year ago, the Tekscan people did not have the new software

> release.

> > Did you evaluate the Tekscan with their new GUI (Graphic User

> > Interface) interface software or the old one?

> > Did you find any significant discrepancies with outcomes between

> the

> > Gaitrite vs. the Tekscan?

> > Can you quickly give a synopsis of the methodology of how you

> compared

> > the systems?

> >

> > ph DeLucia DVM CCRP

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mark,

We paid somewhere between 40-50k for the GaitRite system…….however it's the

longest mat they make (26 feet). There are shorter mates that are significantly

less expensive.

Joe,

Great info on the tekScan system. I forwarded your summary to the GaitRite

people for their response……will keep you posted.

Cheers,

Sherman

Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, CCRT

Diplomate ACVS

Veterinary Orthopedic &

Sports Medicine Group

10975 Guilford Road

polis Junction, MD 20701

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.vosm.com

> > >

> > > Sherman,

> > > A year ago, the Tekscan people did not have the new software

> > release.

> > > Did you evaluate the Tekscan with their new GUI (Graphic User

> > > Interface) interface software or the old one?

> > > Did you find any significant discrepancies with outcomes between

> > the

> > > Gaitrite vs. the Tekscan?

> > > Can you quickly give a synopsis of the methodology of how you

> > compared

> > > the systems?

> > >

> > > ph DeLucia DVM CCRP

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This discussion about Tekscan and GaitRite has been interesting for some of the info about the recent advances. I bought a GaitRite around 2006 and have had a grad student ( Light) whose research has centered on working with the company to get the mat adapted to analyzing quadruped gait. Force plates will likely remain the gold standard in research for a long time yet, but in a clinical setting other options are needed, as Sherman and others have pointed out.

With a 16 ft mat length, a Lab Retriever at a walk yields 4 complete gait cycles. We walk the dog for 6 passes and use the first 3 passes that are acceptable (dog doesn't turn head to the side, etc). This requires a data collection and analysis time around 5 - 10 min. So the technician or whoever collects the data won't have to dedicate big blocks of time to recording. And it avoids having to walk a lame dog over a mat more than a few times.....with asking dogs to circle around for 20 passes or more, fatigue can become an issue, as well as avoiding having to ask dogs in pain to keep walking.

The results from a GaitRite are not kinetic data like a force plate. It's not a force plate, so there are no peak vertical force values. On the other hand, I don't think that it is easy to envision what a dog that shows, for example, a 2% improvement in PVF, looks like anyway. Measurements such as stride length, stance time, stance % etc, are easier to envision and easier to relate to the subjective evaluation. The mat does yield a relative scaled pressure for every sensor that is activated during stance and we're finding that measures such as "total pressure index" appear to be indicators of clinical improvement. 's manuscript is coming out in AJVR in a few months, and she has described the relative pressure measurements in that paper.

The current GaitRite mat has one set of internal cables manufactured in China. According to a recent conversation with them, the rest of the parts (ink electrodes, electronic boxes etc) are produced in the USA and the mat is assembled in the USA by their engineer.

hope this conversation will continue in August at the symposium

JanJanet Steiss, DVM, PhD, PTDept of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology College of Veterinary Medicine Auburn University AL 36849 ______________________________ work ph: FAX (departmental): alternate email: steisje@...

To: VetRehab From: drwall@...Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:42:37 -0500Subject: Re: Re: TekScan vs Gait rite

ph and Sherman,I am supposed to receive the new software this week and will try to let you know what I think. I have had Tekscan for over 5 years but due to the cumbersome nature of the existing software I was considering a change. I was encouraged when ph previously informed me of the new software. Regarding mat length - in order to get what I consider valid information and to eliminate alterations in PVF due to upper body movement (i.e. turning head to one direction thereby falsely increasing PVF in a forelimb) we would make 20 to 25 passes over a double cell mat. I would expect that these alterations can occur with Gaitrite as well but the length of the mat renders more foot falls however multiple passes would most likely still be needed.I am envious of Sherman and Gaynor (he also has GaitRite) because of the apparent user friendly software and rapid production of information, this is not currently possible with existing TekScan Software. Rick Wall